After several consecutive months of unfavorable financial outcomes, Associated Students UCLA saw a better financial month in January.
Despite a continued reduction in sales, ASUCLA has still maintained a net income of $444,000 for the fiscal year, said ASUCLA Executive Director Bob Williams, in the monthly board of directors meeting Friday. Due to previous restructuring in staffing, most ASUCLA branches were able to meet part of their planned contributions to the association.
“We thought it would be a tough month for us, but it turned out to be okay,” Williams said.
While BearWear and textbooks managed to make most of their expected contributions to the association, computer sales were down 20 percent and concession sales at basketball games accounted for $13,000 in lost contribution due to lower attendance.
To make up for this, Williams said the UCLA Union store is offering special deals on the latest Apple computers, with prices lower than many other retail stores.
February store sales were down just under $500,000, Williams said.
The visiting food trucks in the Court of Sciences brought in $56,000. Although this is not as much as the Bombshelter’s sales during last January, there is no cost to the association in bringing them onto campus, Williams said.
ASUCLA is looking to add more trucks to the program’s now 21-truck weekly rotation.
“I’m very pleased with the efficiencies we’ve put in place; obviously, we’re looking for sales to go back up,” he said.
Sales have been consistent with the outside retail climate, said Financial Director Rich Delia.
“It’s tough out there,” he said. “It’s starting to improve a little bit, but it’s going to be a long, long road.”
Delia said the association is nevertheless in a strong cash position, holding on to a $14 million reserve. Even after several million dollars in expenses for the South Campus Student Center and additions to Ackerman restaurants, next month’s cash will still be strong, he said.
Williams said next year will be challenging for the association, which expects utility costs to increase and workers’ compensation to go up by as much as $100,000.
The board is preparing to deal with the anticipated costs.
“We are a little reluctant to project that sales are going to come flying back all … of a sudden (next year), because we don’t see those trends that strongly in the marketplace,” Williams said.
Delia said the board will focus on energy conservation to a higher extent than before to cut down on the projected additional costs.
In the meeting, the board also unanimously approved a measure to eliminate plastic foam from ASUCLA-operated restaurants.
The association will encourage its leases to also reduce plastic foam use, but on a voluntary basis.
Undergraduate representative Jesse Rogel applauded the association for its efforts.
“I hope that we keep going further and we don’t stop here,” he said. “I know that we are replacing a lot of products with plastic and more sustainable things, but there are now a growing number of compostable products. I’d hate for us to stop here and I really want us to keep going further.”